The Citroen DS Made It Cool To Be Weird

The Citroen DS is a legend in the automotive industry for being one of the most groundbreaking designs ever sold, let alone to be a success.

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In this video, certified automotive nerd Derek Tam-Scott examines a brief history of Citroen as a company as well as a deeper dive into the quirky world of the Citroen DS. A car that successfully debuted several industry-first technologies, the DS was pretty darn revolutionary.

There are several examples of the DS’s innovation, ranging from being the first mass produced car with inboard disc brakes, to the implication of the world’s first radial tire to its revolutionary hydraulic system that produced a ride quality that was so unprecedentedly cushy that Rolls Royce ended up licensing it from Citroen for use in their finest products.

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Tam-Scott notes that the revolutionary suspension system allowed the DS to absorb road imperfections with aplomb, while avoiding the disconnected feeling that plagued the American lead sleds and land yachts of the era.

Perhaps the most unconventional aspect of the DS driving experience and one that was notably not adopted by other manufacturers is the mushroom cap-shaped button on the floor that replaced the traditional brake pedal. This brake button proved to be difficult to modulate, requiring the driver to be much more judicious with their movements than a traditional pedal. Not to say the brakes are bad, just different.

Despite these eccentricities, the DS remains a darling of the automotive world with few cars since the DS being so chic and groundbreaking. I am glad that Citroen produced this automotive misfit, and I am glad to see its history being shared so everyone can learn about this wheeled weirdo.